Unfortunately, like Hulk said it is not possible, any reason why you wouldn’t settle for an other launcher ?
Use LawnChair in F-Droid Store
If all you want is a…
… just enable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox again, use those commands…
… and choose your preferred search provider after the reboot.
Removing that empty search bar without major effort won’t happen for the default launcher though.
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Optimally, I’d like to have the perfect search functionality of KISS Launcher with the default launcher.
Note: I just found out that I can use KISS launcher with widgets (Howto) which is even better than I expected. I won’t stick with the default launcher so I don’t need to disable google search bar 
Edit:
I just found out that you can keep the default launcher and use KISS launcher as an assist app only.
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Probably a silly question, but I could not figure out how to do this.
On all my previous phones, first thing I did is disable all those fancy stuff on the home screen, to only have the app icons I need.
On the FP4 the left most screen probably shows a full screen size widget with google search (discoveries disabled, so basically empty).
I have not yet figured out, how to remove that. Could anyone enlighten me?
-Benoit-
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Hi Benoit,
I moved your post here because it’s a frequently asked question.
This pretty much sums it up if you ask me:
So the only easy solution is to install an alternative launcher app. There are plenty of suggestions in this topic.
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I had Ecosia selected as the search provider for the bar, but then uninstalled the Ecosia app, which reverted the bar to Google. Is there any (easy) way to change the bar to using Ecosia again? (downloading the app again did not do the trick)
yes, just look 4 answers upwards 
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I saw that, but unfortunately, I am not used to all these commands and how to execute them. that is why I was asking for an easier way. I take it from your answer that there isn‘t, which is a pity as Fairphone/Google allow it, but (for the standard user) only once at setup. Including that option in Settings would be nice, as one might like the option to switch anytime.
no, sorry. no easier way
Just enable developer options for your phone. enable USB debugging in developer options. connect your phone to pc. install adb. execute the commands. that’s it.
The only esier way is to factory reset your phone
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I suppose the LineageOS Launcher, Trebuchet, isnt just available to download somewhere, hey? F-Droid? Google play store?
Hi
I bought a Fairphone 4, which i received yesterday.
But there is a Google search bar in the bottom, which I would like to remove, but I can’t.
Is there a way to remove this, without having to use an other launcher?
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No, as already mentioned in this thread.
Ok, now I see, that your question was just moved to this thread. But the answer is still the same, the standard launcher of the FP4 doesn’t allow to remove the search bar, so without a different launcher, you have to stay with it.
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The forum maintenance happened just as I was about to hit send on my reply, sorry for the confusion.
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I find that the Nova Launcher is basically the built-in launcher, except with more features. One of them being that you can turn off the Google bar.
The only disadvantage is that every launcher has some slight performance issues on Android 11. Redraws, etc. You may notice it or you may not, but it’s definitely there. Hopefully we get Android 12 soon™ so that will solve it.
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How can I remove the google search bar from the start screen?
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Hi and welcome to the forum
Please search there are lots of Topics/posts and options.
Read a few and post any extra queries you have there
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TL;DR: You can’t, the only option is to switch to another launcher.
And welcome to the community BTW 
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So finally, I was able to deactivate the Google SearchBar after updating to Android 12, yet you cant change the position of the clock. At least now I am so used to my alternative launcher and its advantages, that I won’t go back. What irony?
PS: However, now I have a whole nother (bit smaller) problem with Android 12. Maybe it’s better to open a new topic for that, but while I am at it… It’s about the Internet toggle in the “quick” setting menu, what merges W-LAN with mobile network together, so that you need longer and at least one more step than before to toggle W-LAN on or off. Why is Google always torturing me/us like this? Wh!y? Jokes aside, I am glad that FP is moving to a newer OS and hope there is nothing else I will be bothered with. 
Can’t check on stock FPOS right now, but there should be separate Wi-Fi and mobile data quick setting tiles available.
Just push that 
icon below the quick settings on the right and add the ones you need.